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OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE
B. (U) MDAT-GOG Warning 004/DEC/2017: Category: Attack. Description: On 24 December, a merchant ship was
attacked in position 03:47.5N - 006:50.5E at 0735 UTC. Vessels transiting the area are advised to
exercise extreme caution. Source: Reported to MDAT-GoG via telephone. Any queries regarding this Warning
Notice ring 0033 298 22 88 88 for further information. MDAT-GOG Watchkeeper email: watchkeepers@mdat-
gog.org, emergency Tel: +33(0) 298 22 88 88
3. (U) Summary
A. (U) CARIBBEAN SEA: On 1 January, product tanker KALUBA was intercepted and boarded, 1,570 kilograms of
cocaine was found and 12 crew were detained.
B. (U) BANGLADESH: On 31 December, robbers boarded a barge under tow near Kutubdia Island.
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C. (U) MEXICO: On 30 December, authorities in the port of Lazaro Cardenas found six cases attached to the hull
below the waterline of the container ship CAP PALLISER, containing 285 kilos of cocaine.
D. (U) COLOMBIA: On 29 December, three robbers in a wooden boat boarded a general cargo vessel anchored
in Cartagena Inner Anchorage.
E. (U) CHINA: On 29 December, two robbers boarded a bulk carrier anchored in Caofeidian Anchorage.
F. (U) BRAZIL: On 28 December, four robbers armed with a handgun boarded a small sailing yacht in the
approaches to the port of Santos late at night.
G. (U) SINGAPORE STRAIT: On 28 December, four robbers boarded a bulk carrier awaiting a Pilot 3 nm south of
Changi.
H. (U) INDONESIA: On 26 December, a drifting tug under the name KM AMERIKA was spotted by local fishermen
some 60 nm off Sungai Liat, Bangka Island, Indonesia. It appeared to be abandoned.
I. (U) MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Between 25 and 26 December, more than 250 migrants were rescued in the
central Mediterranean.
J. (U) COSTA RICA: On 25 December, Costa Rica Drug Control Police and the National Coast Guard Service
found container of cocaine attached to a GPS buoy in the waters of the Pacific 70 nautical miles from the Pacific
coast.
K. (U) CHINA: On 25 December, customs authorities seized 12,000 tons of smuggled fuel.
L. (U) INDONESIA: On 25 December, duty crewman onboard a tanker anchored in Cilacap Anchorage.
M. (U) NIGERIA: On 24 December, three robbers attempted to board a product tanker anchored in the SSA
Anchorage, Lagos.
N. (U) NEW ZEALAND: On 21 December, a French tourist was caught in Paihia with 24 kilograms of cocaine.
O. (U) CAMBODIA: On 6 December, authorities in the southwestern port of Sihanoukville found 280 full and partial
elephant tusks hidden amongst a cargo of hollowed out logs inside an abandoned shipping container.
B. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Korean Navy convoy schedule for January 2018. All merchant vessels wishing to join the
convoy group must submit their application forms directly to the ROK naval warship carrying out the mission. The
ROK MTG can be reached directly at 001-646-466-9522. Email: chunghae25@navy.mil. (MSCHOA)
C. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Chinese Navy convoy schedule for January 2018. For further information, please e-mail
planavy@navy.mil.cn, or call Tel 86 10 652 92218; or 86 10 652 92296. (MSCHOA)
D. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Indian Navy convoy escort schedule for January 2018. To register, email dgcommcentre-
dgs@nic.in; or visit www.dgshipping.com. Telephone numbers for contact are: 91-22-22614646 or fax at 91-22-
22613636. (MSCHOA)
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1. (U) MEXICO: On 30 December, authorities in the port of Lazaro Cardenas found six cases attached to the hull
below the waterline of the container ship CAP PALLISER, containing 285 kilos of cocaine. (www.fleetmon.com)
2. (U) UNITED STATES: On 18 December, the U.S. Coast Guard announced that it had interdicted a Mexican
lancha boat crew suspected of illegally transporting narcotics while in federal waters. According to the Coast Guard,
the lancha, three people and 1,500 pounds of marijuana were interdicted in the vicinity of Packery Channel near
Port Aransas. (www.kristv.com)
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2. (U) COLOMBIA: On 29 December, three robbers in a wooden boat boarded a general cargo vessel anchored
near position 10:19N - 075:31W, Cartagena Inner Anchorage. Duty crewman noticed the robbers and raised the
alarm. Seeing the crew alertness, the robbers escaped with stolen ship’s properties. Incident reported to port
control. (IMB)
3. (U) BRAZIL: On 28 December, four robbers armed with a handgun boarded a small sailing yacht in the
approaches to the port of Santos late at night. The robbers methodically ransacked the boat, taking almost anything
they could carry and escaped. Report made to local authorities. (www.noonsite.com)
4. (U) COSTA RICA: On 25 December, Costa Rica Drug Control Police and the National Coast Guard Service
found numerous packages of cocaine weighing one ton attached to a GPS buoy in the waters of the Pacific 70
nautical miles from the Pacific coast. Authorities took the cocaine to the Golfito Port. (www.news.co.cr)
5. (U) GUATEMALA: On 22 December, a sack containing 20 packages of cocaine was found during an under hull
search of the cargo ship BALSA 93 in the port of Puerto Quetzal. The sack was attached to the hull near the
rudder. (www.fleetmon.com)
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6. (U) EL SALVADOR: On 12 December, naval forces seized nearly a ton of cocaine and arrested eight people
smuggling it on boats intercepted offshore in the Pacific Ocean. It was the second-biggest haul of cocaine made by
the Central American country. Those arrested were eight Guatemalans and one Salvadoran. The intercept took
place 335 nautical miles off the coast of El Salvador. (www.outlookindia.com)
2. (U) SPAIN: On 18 December, authorities seized 332 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a shipment of sugar from
Brazil at the southwestern port of Algeciras, the country’s tax agency said. (www.laht.com)
3. (U) GREECE: On 6 December, the merchant tug ANDREAS was intercepted by Greek Coast Guard, south of
Ierapetra, Crete, on suspicion of drug trafficking. The tug was taken to Agia Galini port, southwest Crete, and
searched. Ten tons of hashish were found in tug’s cargo hold, hidden beneath drums. All 6 crew of Syrian
nationality were arrested. (www.fleetmon.com)
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1. (U) NIGERIA: On 24 December, duty crewmen onboard a product tanker anchored near position 06:17N –
003:13E, SSA Anchorage, Lagos, saw three robbers attempting to board the vessel and immediately notified the
officer on watch. Alarm was raised and crew was mustered. Seeing the alerted crew, the robbers escaped empty
handed. The incident was reported to the Nigerian Navy and a patrol boat was dispatched to investigate. (IMB)
2. (U) NIGERIA: On 24 December, a merchant vessel reported being attacked and boarded near position 03:47N -
006:50E, 42 nm south-southwest of Bonny Island. (MDAT-GOG; IMB; www.pviltd.com)
3. (U) NIGERIA: On 21 December, the Nigerian Navy in Lagos rescued four Chinese nationals from kidnappers
around Igbokoda area of Ondo State. The Flag Off Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Adm.
Sylvanus Abbah, told journalists in Lagos that the four victims were abducted on board a fishing trawler in
Lagos waters on December 14. According to him, operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT rescued
the abducted Chinese nationals from a militant camp in the riverine area of Ondo State. (www.thestreetjournal.org)
4. (U) NIGERIA: On 14 December, at 0830 UTC pirates boarded the Greece-flagged bulk carrier SKYLIGHT near
position 03:46N - 006:17E, 32 nm south of Brass. Ten crewmen were kidnapped. (IMB; www.fleetmon.com)
5. (U) NIGERIA: On 14 December, at 0128 UTC robbers made an unsuccessful attempt to board a merchant
vessel near position 03:58N - 006:12E, south of Brass. Vessel and crew are safe. (MDAT-GOG)
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6. (U) NIGERIA: On 10 December, duty crewman onboard a tanker anchored near position 06:19N - 003:17E, 5 nm
south of Lagos, noticed three robbers on the main deck and raised the alarm. Seeing the alerted crew, the robbers
escaped empty-handed. (IMB)
7. (U) NIGERIA: On 8 December, a merchant vessel reported being boarded near position 04:11N - 007:00E,
vicinity of Bonny River. Nigerian Navy vessel responded, but pirates had already gone. Ship and crew are safe.
(MDAT-GOG)
8. (U) NIGERIA: On 7 December, a merchant ship reported that 8 robbers attempted to board their ship near
position 03:31N - 007:07E, approximately 60 nm south of Bonny. The boarding attempt failed and the ship and
crew are reportedly safe. (MDAT-GOG)
1. (U) AUSTRALIA: On 22 December, authorities seized a record 1.2 tons of methamphetamines with a street
value of more than USD $771 million after a raid in a remote area of the west Australian coast. Eight Australian
men were charged with offences carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, police in western Australia
state said in a statement. The drugs were collected from a ship called the VALKOISTA, police said, and were then
offloaded into a rented van at a dock in Geraldton, about 375 km north of the Western Australia capital, Perth.
Police intercepted the van as it reversed away from the dock. Police arrested the van’s three occupants, all from
the eastern Australian state of New South Wales. Three others were arrested on the ship and the remaining two
were charged in Perth. (www.gcaptain.com)
2. (U) GULF OF ADEN: On 14 December, a merchant vessel reported a suspicious approach near position 13:56N
- 049:51E, 60 nm southeast of Mukalla. Three skiffs with 3 to 4 persons in each skiff made a close approach, then
turned away. (UKMTO)
3. (U) EGYPT: On 10 December, Interior Ministry authorities foiled an attempt by foreign smugglers to smuggle 200
kilograms of heroin into the country via Safaga Port in the Red Sea. (www.egypttoday.com)
4. (U) RED SEA: On 7 December, a vessel reported being attacked near position 14:32N - 042:47E, vicinity of
Hodeida, Yemen. (UKMTO)
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1. (U) BANGLADESH: On 31 December, robbers boarded a barge under tow near position 21:49N - 091:34E,
vicinity of Kutubdia Island, and stole barge’s properties. All crew safe. (IMB)
2. (U) SINGAPORE STRAIT: On 28 December, four robbers boarded a bulk carrier awaiting a Pilot boat near
position 01:16N - 104:02E, 3 nm south of Changi. They entered the engine room and threatened the duty engineer
with a knife. The engineer managed to escape and raise the alarm. Seeing the alerted crew, the robbers escaped
empty handed. Incident reported to VTIS East Singapore. (IMB)
3. (U) INDONESIA: On 26 December, a drifting tug under the name KM AMERIKA was spotted by local fishermen
some 60 nm off Sungai Liat, Bangka island, Indonesia, South China sea. There were no people on board, and no
signs of disaster or clues as to why and how crew had abandoned the vessel. (www.fleetmon.com;
www.bangka.tribunnews.com)
4. (U) INDONESIA: ON 25 December, duty crewman onboard a tanker anchored near position 07:46S - 109:04E,
Cilacap Anchorage, spotted four robbers near the poop deck. Alarm raised and crew mustered. Seeing the crew
alertness, the robbers escaped with stolen ship’s engine spares. (IMB)
5. (U) CAMBODIA: On 6 December, authorities in the southwestern port of Sihanoukville found 280 full and partial
elephant tusks hidden amongst a cargo of hollowed out logs inside an abandoned shipping container that had
arrived from Ivory Coast nearly a year ago. The ivory weighed nearly a ton, according to authorities involved in the
search of the container. (AFP World Service)
6. (U) BANGLADESH: On 16 December, robbers boarded a barge under tow near position 21:14N - 091:47E, 14
nm west of Nidania. The thieves stole barge properties and escaped. All crew safe. (IMB)
7. (U) VIETNAM: On 16 December, during cargo operations near position 20:53N - 107:16E, Hon Net Anchorage,
12 robbers boarded an anchored bulk carrier via the mooring ropes of the cargo barge alongside. Duty crewman
noticed the robbers stealing paint drums and raised the alarm. Seeing the alerted crew, the robbers escaped with
stolen ship’s properties. (IMB)
8. (U) SINGAPORE STRAIT: On 13 December, four robbers armed with knives boarded a tanker underway near
position 01:14N - 104:02E, Singapore Strait. As they entered the engine room they came across the duty oiler and
assaulted him. Alarm raised and crew mustered. Seeing the crew’s alertness, the robbers escaped with stolen
ship’s engine spare parts. (IMB)
9. (U) PHILIPPINES: On 9 December, robbers boarded an anchored container ship via the anchor chain, near
position 14:35N - 120:55E, Manila South Harbor Anchorage. The thieves cut through the forecastle store room
padlock, stole ship's properties and escaped. The incident was noticed and reported by the bosun. Local authorities
informed and the coast guard boarded the vessel to investigate. (IMB)
10. (U) INDIA: On 9 December, four suspected pirates were arrested after a boat chase in Sundarbans waters.
Police recovered seven firearms and 14 rounds of ammunition from them. Interrogation revealed the men were
from Satkhira in Bangladesh. (The Telegraph Online)
11. (U) INDONESIA: On 8 December, 4 robbers armed with knives and swords boarded an anchored tanker near
position 01:27N - 104:39E, 15 nm north-northeast of Pulau Bintan. The robbers tied up the second engineer in the
engine room workshop, stole engine spare parts and escaped. Ship searched. (IMB)
12. (U) PHILIPPINES: On 7 December, duty watchmen onboard a container ship anchored near position 14:35N -
120:51E, Manila anchorage, noticed three robbers near the forecastle and immediately notified the officer on watch.
Alarm raised and crew mustered. Seeing the alerted crew, the robbers escaped with ship’s properties. Coast Guard
notified. (IMB)
13. (U) INDONESIA: On 7 December, four robbers, armed with knives, boarded an anchored offshore supply
vessel near position 00:43N - 104:10E, Galang Anchorage. Duty watchman spotted the robbers and informed the
duty officer. Alarm was raised and crew was mustered. Seeing the crew’s alertness, the robbers escaped empty-
handed. (IMB)
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14. (U) INDONESIA: On 7 December, a crewman onboard an offshore support vessel anchored near position
00:44N - 104:08E, Galang Lay Up Anchorage, noticed several robbers armed with crow bars and raised the alarm.
Seeing the alerted crew, the robbers escaped with stolen ship’s stores. Local authorities contacted. A security team
boarded the vessel for investigations. (IMB)
15. (U) PHILIPPINES: On 7 December, authorities recovered the remains of a Vietnamese ship captain kidnapped
from a bulk carrier by the Abu Sayyaf militants over a year ago. The captain, identified as Pham Minh Tuan, was
among six people kidnapped from the ROYAL 16 as it sailed in Philippine waters off Basilan Island on 11
November 2016. Another crew member was shot during the incident. Authorities said they discovered Tuan’s
body in Jolo, the capital city of Sulu. Officials, however, believe that Tuan had been killed by his captors during a
standoff with the Philippine military in the city of Talipao in September. (www.gcaptain.com)
2. (U) CHINA: On 25 December, customs authorities seized 12,000 tons of smuggled fuel and arrested 17
suspects. The seizure is a result of months of investigations in coastal provinces of Jiangsu, Fujian and Zhejiang
province. The smuggling occurred outside the mouth of Yangtze River and at sea, through ship-to-ship transfers
with foreign vessels. (Reuters; Xinhua)
3. (U) SOUTH KOREA: On 19 December, South Korea’s Coast Guard said it fired 249 warning shots over a group
of Chinese fishing boats “swarming around” one of its patrol ships in South Korean waters. South Korean Coast
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Guard vessels regularly chase Chinese boats suspected of fishing illegally in South Korean waters, at times
sparking violent confrontations. A fleet of 44 Chinese fishing boats fortified with iron bars and steel mesh began to
rush the patrol boat which broadcast warnings to steer clear, the Coast Guard said. The coast guard vessel fired
shots over the boats until they retreated. “The Chinese fishing boats sought to swarm around and collide with
our patrol ship, ignoring the broadcast warnings,” the Coast Guard said in a statement. (wwwgcaptain.com)
(U) This appendix provides contact information for the author of the WTS as well as other entities that can be
contacted with maritime crime reports. It also lists other resources where the WTS is posted and where piracy and
maritime crime incident information can be found.
(U) Contact
(U) Originator of this WTS report requests consumer feedback. Originator will incorporate all anti-shipping events
and violence against the maritime industry into this weekly message where appropriate. To aid in our reporting,
please add the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) to your normal corporate and organizational reporting
requirements. The 24-hour watch can be reached at +1 (301) 669-4053.
(U) This Worldwide Threat to Shipping Report is posted at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Maritime
Safety site: http://msi.nga.mil/NGAPortal/MSI.portal. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) also publishes a live
piracy report based on reporting from the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, listing all piracy
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and armed robbery incidents in the last ten days: http://www.icc-ccs.org/. The PAWW and WTS Reports are posted
weekly on the ONI Intel Portal: http://www.oni.navy.mil/Intelligence_Community/piracy.htm.
(U) This appendix is provided to promote consistent use of accurate terms of reference in reporting and also
identifies those references that were used to gather the information contained in this report. ONI welcomes
comment and suggestions for addition or amendment.
(U) Terminology
(U) In order to promote consistent use of accurate terms of reference, the following have been adopted to describe
the range of criminal anti-shipping activity and impediments to safe navigation in our worldwide reporting and
analysis. Please note that these terms relate to observable activity and are independent of target vessel status and
exclude actions by governmental powers in lawful pursuit of their authorities:
(U) Attempted Boarding – Close approach or hull-to-hull contact with report that boarding paraphernalia were
employed or visible in the approaching boat.
(U) Blocking – Hampering safe navigation, docking, or undocking of a vessel as a means of protest.
(U) Boarding – Unauthorized boarding of a vessel by persons not part of its complement without successfully
taking control of the vessel.
(U) Hijacking – Unauthorized seizure and retention of a vessel by persons not part of its complement.
(U) Kidnapping – Unauthorized forcible removal of persons belonging to the vessel from it.
(U) Robbery – Theft from a vessel or from persons aboard the vessel.
(U) Suspicious Approach – All other unexplained activity in close proximity of an unknown vessel.
(U) Sourcing
(U) ONI derives information in this report from direct reporting and analysis of reports from the following agencies
and commercial sources.
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(U) The PAWW and WTS reports are posted each week on the ONI Intel Portal and can be found at:
http://www.oni.navy.mil/Intelligence-Community/Piracy
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